New plaza opens on Ontario side of US-Canada span

LEWISTON, N.Y. (AP) — A new $62 million plaza on the Canadian side of a bridge connecting the U.S. and Ontario is expected to ease traffic congestion at one of western New York's four border crossings.

Canadian and American officials on Thursday officially opened the new plaza in Queenston, Ontario, across the border from Lewiston, just north of Niagara Falls.

The Queenston-Lewiston Bridge, one of four international crossings in the Buffalo Niagara region, has become known in recent years for its long wait times on busy travel weekends.

It's the second phase of upgrades at the nearly 40-year-old plaza. They include new inspection booths for trucks and passenger vehicles, along with a separate bus lane.

Canadian officials say about 675,000 commercial trucks and more than 2.5 million cars used the bridge last year.